What are the main anatomical regions of the lower limb?

The lower limb has six main regions: gluteal region (buttock and lateral hip), thigh (hip to knee, contains femur), knee region (includes patella and popliteal fossa), leg (knee to ankle, contains tibia and fibula), ankle region (surrounds ankle joint), and foot (contains tarsals, metatarsals, and phalanges).

How is body weight transmitted through the lower limb?

Body weight is transmitted from the vertebral column through the sacroiliac joints to the pelvis, then through hip joints to the femurs, and finally through the tibiae to the talus of the foot. The tibia bears most of the weight, while the fibula does not participate in weight transmission.

What are the major muscle groups in the lower limb?

Major muscle groups include gluteal muscles (e.g., gluteus maximus), thigh compartments (quadriceps and hamstrings), leg compartments (anterior and posterior), and foot muscles (supporting arches).

Which nerves innervate the lower limb?

The lower limb is innervated by nerves from lumbar and sacral plexuses, including the femoral nerve (anterior thigh), obturator nerve (medial thigh), and sciatic nerve (posterior thigh, dividing into tibial and common peroneal nerves for leg and foot).

What arteries supply blood to the lower limb?

The lower limb is primarily supplied by the femoral artery, which branches into deep femoral and popliteal arteries, then into anterior and posterior tibial arteries for the leg and foot. Additional supply comes from gluteal and obturator arteries.

How does venous drainage work in the lower limb?

Venous drainage involves deep veins (accompanying arteries), superficial veins (great and small saphenous veins), and perforating veins (connecting superficial to deep veins, with valves to prevent backflow).

What is the lymphatic drainage pattern of the lower limb?

Lymphatic drainage occurs through superficial lymphatics (draining skin to superficial inguinal nodes) and deep lymphatics (accompanying deep vessels to deep inguinal nodes).

Lower Limb Anatomy – Regions, Nerves & Blood Supply

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